Got Wedding Business Questions? Ask ‘Em Here!

Jeff and I have dedicated ourselves to answering the pressing questions of wedding professionals.

If we don’t have the answers, we’ll find ’em!

The response has been PHENOMENAL. I’ve got literally hundreds of emails filled with questions and challenges. Our heartfelt thanks goes out to everyone who has shared with us.

But there is a Dark Side…

There are so many emails coming in that I simply can’t keep up with them anymore. As much as I want to answer each one personally, it’s just not possible.

An Alternative Solution

Post your biggest wedding business questions HERE on the blog! I’ll check in and answer them as often as I can. I’m also working on a series of blog posts that answers the most frequently asked questions of wedding vendors. I call it, “Wedding Pro FAQs.” (Novel idea, eh?)

In the meantime, other members of the wedding professional community can pitch in and share their knowledge. Then we can all learn from each other.

What do you say?

Let’s Get Started!

Leave your biggest wedding business challenge, frustration or question in a comment below.

If you read a blog post and have a question about it, just leave a comment below.

If you see a question in the comments and you have an answer or suggestion, share the knowledge!

Stephanie Padovani

Stephanie is a Hudson Valley wedding insider, blogger, writer, and wedding business coach. Want to book more weddings at higher prices? Quit dealing with price shoppers? Transform your wedding business so that it supports the life you really want? Look her up! They don't call her the Wedding Business Cheerleader for nothing. :)

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0 thoughts on “Got Wedding Business Questions? Ask ‘Em Here!”

The Biggest question i have for you today is how can a new event planning company that has no prior experience in weddings, expect for other social events that has been done for friends and family attract more bride and gain their trust if she doesn’t have the testimonials that is so important, without out having to lie.

[quote name=”keitha thomas”]How can a new event planning company that has no prior experience in weddings, expect for other social events that has been done for friends and family attract more bride and gain their trust if she doesn’t have the testimonials that is so important, without out having to lie?[/quote]

Great question! It’s something we all have to deal with when we’re just starting out.

When we were brand new 11 years ago, we focused on the strengths we did have. When they asked how many weddings we had done, Jeff would say, “I’ve been working in music over 25 years…” (referring to his experience as a professional musician) and then redirect the conversation.

What are your strengths as a newbie? You’re eager to build your business, so you work harder. Maybe you have an inspiring story that caused you to get into business.

I don’t recommend lying, ever. But you can skillfully redirect the conversation where you want it to go by asking questions.

If they press the question, “How many weddings have you done?” answer them honestly, then immediately spin it to your advantage. “That’s why we work harder to make sure you’re happy and offer a terrific bargain.”

In the beginning you can use character testimonials from previous jobs, even if you don’t have wedding testimonials. “Keitha was amazing to work with and always got the job done.” Your past work performance is certainly relevant and you can probably grab excerpts from reviews or thank you letters in the past.

It’s usually our own insecurities that make inexperience an issue. If you can act and feel confident about your abilities and build trust with the client, they’ll barely notice.

I just listened to your video about FB.I’m a little confused on @tags.If I add one to my post should i write ‘@tag bookmorebrides’ OR ‘@bookmorebrides’ The words AT TAGS were mentioned but i’m confused on how exactly to write them in my posts.

[quote name=”cindy”]I just listened to your video about FB.I’m a little confused on @tags.If I add one to my post should i write ‘@tag bookmorebrides’ OR ‘@bookmorebrides’ The words AT TAGS were mentioned but i’m confused on how exactly to write them in my posts.[/quote]

When you’re writing your status update, using the “@ tag” is just like on Twitter. Type in “@bookmorebrides” and it will create a hyperlink to the page for you AND post it on their FB wall.

Try it out on your own status and you’ll see how it works. If you “mess it up” you can always delete your comment, so no worries.

[quote name=”Wendy Kimmel”]Dear Stephanie & Jeff, So I have a question… I work at CBS TV five days a week& I don’t get home ’til 7. Will I be able to watch (or listen) when I get home ? Thank you,Wendy[/quote]

Yes! We’re entering Day 4 of the Summit and you can watch the videos anytime during the 24 hrs each is available right from home.

I have tried everything you and your husband have sent me, I have tried things I have read and I am still in the dark on how to boost my wedding photography business, I am getting calls from price shopping brides but I don’t know why they don’t book. I try and setup meetings with them and they don’t want that all they want is my rates and that’s it. I don’t have $ to spend to have someone help me market my business or to tell me what I am doing wrong, although I wish I did. I have 45$ to my name till I get another booking ….i don’t give away my services because then I wont make $….What can I do to get a bride to want to book me?

I’d have to see the details of your situation to really assess them. However, if you’re actually doing all the strategies we’ve suggested, it’s likely at least one of two things:

1) You haven’t implemented them correctly or 2) there is another deeper problem with your business model, image, sales or service.

You can keep blaming the brides for being “price shoppers,” but it won’t change the results you get. You have to do something different to get different results, and if that doesn’t work, do something different again.

There ARE wedding vendors who are booking easily and building 6 Figure Wedding Businesses. If they can do it, so can you.

Take responsibility for getting the results that you want. Then take action, test, evaluate and take action again until you get the results you want.

Make sure you check out the 6 Figure Wedding Business Summit starting on March 7th. I can guarantee you’ll learn something extremely valuable, and it’s FREE. Then act on it.

Presently, my biggest frustration and problem is the hundreds of new DJ-Want-2-B’s that have recently flooded the local market where I live & operate. I’ve been in the mobile DJ business for 15-yrs now (Licensed & Insured:). But I live & work in area that’s seasonal (SW Florida).Within the last couple of years, I’ve noticed a whole bunch of DJ’s (some local, & some operating quite a distance away)advertising online & in area phone books, that didn’t exist 3 or more years ago. Yet, they’re all saying that they’ve been in business for umteen years and worst yet, they’re charging ridiculously low prices. I’ve recently lost way too many gigsto these fly-by-night jokers. Now there is a huge difference in what they do (or more to the point….Don’t Do) and what I have to offer as a professional DJ. But yet, despite explaining this in great detail to prospective clients that contact me, or that I’ve contacted….well, it just doesn’t seem to be working. With the present economy and everyone being more price conscious now a days, it just keeps coming down to the bottom line….$$$. And I’m concerned because I seem to belosing the battle. And I’m not just taking about those types of brides that are just price shopping and don’t know to care, or find out about quality. It seems like just about everyone is cutting back and making the price a bigger issue. I’ve even written a pretty well received blog about it. You can check it out here: http://gooddjbaddj.blogspot.com/

This is an ongoing question and challenge. How do you differentiate your services from the underpriced competition when brides just don’t know any better?

The first thing I’d suggest: stop trying to educate them. Though your argument is absolutely valid, it comes off sounding like a lecture to a bride who knows that you have a vested interest in getting her to pay more.

Second, don’t focus on that competition. It drains you energy and only makes you more frustrated.

Instead, focus on actions you can take to communicate your value. The primary method is by being an amazing resource for a couple as soon as they contact you, from moment one, before you book, and using reviews and testimonials to prove your value to them.

Jeff and I just finished wrapping our Day 1 presentation about the “Overwhelming Value Formula.” That combined with Day 4’s “Irresistible Price and Package” talks about these issues at great length.

Make sure you check these out during the 6 Figure Wedding Business Summit and I think you’ll find it very helpful.

“Instead, focus on actions you can take to communicate your value. The primary method is by being an amazing resource for a couple as soon as they contact you, from moment one, before you book, and using reviews and testimonials to prove your value to them.”

Stephanie[/quote]

Okay, I understand that, because I’ve always included reviews & some amazingtestimonials not only on my web site,but also in my initial sales proposalto the prospective client. Also, I’ve made great strides over the years inlearning & implementing better phoneskills. I always work towards building a good & sincere re pore (relationship) with the Bride-2-B. Now here’s the frustrating part for me; there havebeen times, where I truly felt frommy close personal conversations withBrides-2-B, that I had a done deal,only to see it slip away to some otherDJ. I mean, this after having theseladies tell me, that they really likewhat they’re hearing from me, that they’re really impressed with my knowledge and willingness to go the extra mile to help them any way I can,and share with them advise about ALLaspects of their wedding. I’ve heard that, and came away certain that I nowhad the job, only to either not hearfrom them again, or contact them andfind out that they went with somebodyelse. This drives me crazy…not somuch that I lost the gig, but morebecause I truly do not know why.I mean, I often wish I could just ask them why. Was it something I said,or didn’t say? Was I overbearing?Because I really don’t think that Iam. I always talk to them in a relaxedmanner, injecting a little light humorwhere I can to ease any possible tension. Sometimes my approach works,sometimes it doesn’t.

I just want some constructive criticism,so I can learn and improve. But I feelthat if I was to ask them, then theymight feel, I’m being pushy or I’mdesperate. What do you think?

I’ve heard that bridal retailers visit events about once a year where they will meet with the manufacturers, see the samples, and place orders. Do you have info on how i can attend one of these events? Where they are held? And as a manufacturer, what are the requirements?

Hi, my business is based in Cancun. My biggest frustration is that I can not be at several places at the same time. So I’ve been thinking to launch my business as a franchise. The thing is I have absolutely no idea how to do it.

[quote name=”Sakurako”]Hi, my business is based in Cancun. My biggest frustration is that I can not be at several places at the same time. So I’ve been thinking to launch my business as a franchise. The thing is I have absolutely no idea how to do it.[/quote]

I don’t know much about franchising except that it is quite expensive. A business broker estimated the cost at $100k+ and it takes over a year.

You can call someone who specializes in selling franchises and tell them that you are looking to create one. Or you can attend local franchise opportunity expositions to get more info.

Is there another way you might “be in more places at once,” like opening a new store (not the same as franchising, which is “renting” your business name) or sub-contracting business out to other florists?

I’ve been trying to get my website to show up on the 1st pg of google “Aspen Wedding Photographers” for quite a while now. I link to blogs (like this one), I tag images on my website, I update my blog, and update facebook all the time. It’s still on the 2nd & 3rd pages depending on the search term. Thanks for all your support and help.

[quote name=”Aspen Wedding Photog”]I’ve been trying to get my website to show up on the 1st pg of google “Aspen Wedding Photographers” for quite a while now. I link to blogs (like this one), I tag images on my website, I update my blog, and update facebook all the time. It’s still on the 2nd & 3rd pages depending on the search term.[/quote]

Hey, Aspen Wedding Photographer.

Your doing many of the critical things that build rank and authority for your site, like creating regular content on your website and tagging your images and posts.

The piece that’s missing is BACKLINKS. You need backlinks, but not just any backlinks…you need anchor text links for the specific keyword phrase you want to rank for, “aspen wedding photographer.”

Blog comments are one way to get them, but they’re better for traffic than ranking because most of them are “no follow,” which means the search engines don’t count them toward your website’s authority.

This question is a little involved to answer in a single blog comment 🙂 , but the short answer is to get other wedding websites to link to you for “aspen wedding photographer.” You can accomplish this by doing guest blog posts and submitting articles to article directories like Ezine Articles.

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Hi! We are Stephanie and Jeff Padovani, a husband-wife power business duo.

We empower wedding professionals who are awesome at what they do…but not so good at marketing and promoting…with strategies that will double your bookings and allow you to increase your price up to 70% and still book your calendar solid.